Gail Walling Yanney, M.D.
and Michael Yanney

Video: Meet the Yanneys

For four decades, the Yanneys have been impassioned supporters of UNMC. Because of their long-term vision, guidance and philanthropy, UNMC’s goal of becoming a world-class academic health sciences center is coming to fruition.

"This is a completely new era for UNMC – for the entire region. The research center is going to bring to our region more new venture capital businesses than we’ve ever seen in the past. More significantly, it’s going to put us on a world-class plane with medical centers all over the world," Michael Yanney said.

The Yanneys' gift establishes the Gail Walling Yanney M.D. Seminar Center in the Durham Research Center. The seminar center will consist of multiple spaces designated to accommodate educational and professional needs on the eighth floor.

Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., is a retired anesthesiologist and a 1961 graduate of UNMC’s College of Medicine. She was a clinical instructor in the College of Medicine from 1961 to 1992.

Dr. Walling Yanney served as president of the College of Medicine Alumni Board from 1997 to 1999 and is still active in alumni activities. She also was executive director of the Clarkson Hospital Foundation.

"We have phenomenal research scientists at UNMC. I am impressed every day with the quality of people we have and of the people they attract around them. It just means good things for the people of the world," Dr. Walling Yanney said.

Dr. Walling Yanney is active on The Nebraska Medical Center board, the College of St. Mary’s board, the Yanney Heritage Park Foundation in Kearney, the Nebraska Audubon’s advisory board, the Center for Human Nutrition board, the Nebraska Cultural Trust, and the advisory council for the Women’s Fund of Greater Omaha.

For her work in the community, Dr. Walling Yanney was recognized by the YWCA as a Woman of Distinction in 1988 and the Arthritis Foundation's Woman of the Year in 1993. She also has received numerous awards for her work with nature associations.

Yanney is the chairman of the board of the America First Companies, which has managed public investment funds with assets in excess of $3.5 billion. He is a member of the board of directors for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., Forest Oil Corp., Level 3 Communications Inc., Magnum Resources, RCN Corp., InLight Solutions and Netrake.

Michael Yanney has been involved in riverfront development plans, expansion of the Henry Doorly Zoo and Joslyn Art Museum, and numerous other environmental and civic projects. He serves on the Omaha Zoological Board, the Joslyn Art Museum board and the Stanford Law School advisory board.

His primary community interest is a youth mentoring program he founded in 1986 called All Our Kids Inc. (A-OK). The program matches mentors with Omaha-area students from junior high through high school. Upon completion of high school, A-OK provides these students with scholarships for post-secondary education. Dr. Walling Yanney currently serves on A-OK's board.

The Yanneys have hosted the Carol Bell Lectureship since its inception five years ago, bringing nationally respected cancer researchers to UNMC for the annual event. They also are advocates for the UNMC HIV Clinic.